Delhi: The 5^th Defence and Naval Exhibition, DEFEXPO, will for the first time see a BAE Systems mine protected vehicle, the RG-31, on the Mahindra Defence stand. The companies are in discussion to jointly develop an Indian mine protected vehicle based on the highly successful RG-31.

Nearly 600 RG-31 vehicles are in service with US, Canadian and a number of other forces including the United Nations. 624 RG-31 have been ordered for the Pentagon’s Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) programme.

The all-steel, welded armour, monocoque hull of the RG-31 protects occupants from anti-tank mine detonations. The vehicle is proven in operations to have saved the lives of countless crews from mines and roadside bomb attacks. With a modular interior layout the vehicle can be configured as an APC, command vehicle, ambulance, surveillance vehicle and for many other uses. In standard APC configuration, this air-conditioned vehicle carries a crew of 8-10.

Mike Mendoza, BAE Systems MD India said, 'Mahindra is an enormously capable world class company with the skills to become a strong partner for BAE Systems on the development of a mine protected vehicle for India.'

Brig. Khutub Hai, Chief Executive, Mahindra Defence Systems, said, 'Mahindra Defence Systems is in the business of providing vehicle protection to the defence and para-military forces. Our cooperation with BAE Systems, who are leaders in this field, for joint production of mine protected vehicles is a strategic fit for our vehicle armouring business ".

BAE Systems has already supplied mine protected vehicles known as Casspir to the Indian Army. 165 Casspirs entered service in India in 1999.

About BAE Systems

BAE Systems is the premier global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 96,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £15 billion (US $27 billion) in 2006*.

*On a pro forma basis, assuming BAE Systems had owned Armor Holdings Inc for the whole of 2006"

About Mahindra Defence Systems

Mahindra Defence Systems is a division of the US$ 6 billion group Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, the eighth largest group in India. MDS is today the country’s leading provider of high mobility and light bullet proof vehicles to the armed forces, paramilitary and police forces. There are in excess of 500 Rakshaks and up-armoured Scorpios in service in the Indian Army and security/police forces in India and abroad.